From World-Class Prenatal Care To First-Rate Food Allergy Research, The City’s Top Hospitals Always Keep Family At The Forefront

In late summer when the kids are still off from school and daily schedules have run amok, it’s easy to cast exercise by the wayside in favor of lazy beach days or cool indoor afternoons.

A list of unique workout classes that will work wonders on your body—whether you're an expectant mom, a new mom or a longtime veteran of mommyhood.

Regardless of the reasons—weight gain, limited budget, a jam-packed schedule—we all at some point find ourselves on the verge of giving up our sense of style.

Staying healthy during pregnancy is a priority for every mom-to-be, but figuring out a fitness plan can be overwhelming, as there seems to be a gray area between what types of exercise are healthy, and which are potentially dangerous. For advice, we turned to a few NYC experts who specialize in prenatal fitness and health—Sheryl Wilson, CPT, Esq. and the founder of Fitnotic; Julianna Sechhes, director of prenatal yoga at Karma Kids Yoga; and Anna Merrill, co-owner of Birthday Presence, a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator and DONA-certified labor support doula. Of course, while we hope these tips will help get you started, all moms-to-be should consult their health care providers before embarking on any exercise regime.

With freezing temperatures, blustery winds and plenty of snow and sleet, it’s no wonder New Yorkers tend to hibernate during winter. Still, it’s important to keep active during the cold months to avoid weight gain and unhealthy levels of inactivity. To get kids motivated, fitness experts recommend adopting practical and creative strategies, ranging from parent-and-child fitness classes to exercises circuits at home to simply exploring a new neighborhood.

As we approach the winter season, many parents will be watching their children for symptoms of the cold, flu, and the newest seasonal bug, H1N1. Most parents don’t know, however, about another virus that’s both prevalent and contagious this time of year, which can be very dangerous to some children, especially those born prematurely.

Academy Award winning actress, mom of three children, YMCA board member and a past New York Family cover mom, Marcia Gay Harden was on hand at the recent “The ABC's of the YMCA” luncheon, which included a tour of the historic West side YMCA, a review of all of the YMCA’s family offerings and helpful tips for healthy living in the city.

For more than a year now, children (with the likely encouragement and help of their parents) have been writing to New York Family Sports with all sorts of interesting questions.

Bedbugs are not the only pesky insects plaguing parents and city schools. Enter head lice, a pest second only to the common cold in contraction among school children.